Monitors – Night Drive (Droog Remix)(Faceless Recordings)

Montreal based duo Monitors make their debut on Silky & Barber’s London imprint Faceless Recordings with two original productions, whilst four remixes from Droog, Stefan Z, Ominous and label owner Silky complete the EP.

Having released their debut EP in 2012 on hometown label Mile End Records, Monitors have become a name known to many in Canada and the US through their residency at Stereo Montreal, which will see them grace the booth alongside Music On residents Neverdogs this April. For their first EP release of 2016, the duo make their debut on London’s Faceless Recordings and follow distinguished names including Timo Maas, Roland Appel, James Teej and the late great Frankie Knuckles to the label.

First up, ‘Night Drive’ opens the EP with a selection of soft yet vibrant pads and a steady rhythm, before the Droog remix offers a melodic focused alternative with echoing vocals, minimal tones and deep kicks. Label head honcho Silky completes the ‘Night Drive’ set by stepping in to unveil a medley of organic percussion licks and evolving atmospherics.

Next up, title track ‘J’Adore’ is a return to Monitors original productions and delivers a cavernous lead line accompanied by rich stabs and reverberating murmurs. Stefan Z’s take on the production centres itself deep within its dark and murky metallic tones and its weighty 4×4 arrangement. Lastly, the stripped back Ominous Remix of “J’Adore’ builds through a series of sporadic sonics and low slung rhythms to round off the EP.